Trying to make your home eco-friendlier? It’s not too difficult to do. You can earn some significant tax incentives for making green upgrades to your home, and it’s also become somewhat of a status statement to equip your home with green technologies. Here are seven ways you can make your living space better for the environment.
1. Install an Artificial Lawn
Consider replacing your grass lawn with an artificial lawn. Sure, grass lawns are nice for barbecues. But the problem with grass laws is that they require lots of water to keep healthy, especially if you live in a warmer climate like Southern California or Nevada. Many drier climates are facing water shortages—and it’s safe to say that water is best used for drinking and plumbing than for keeping grass alive that’s not even supposed to grow naturally in arid regions.
An artificial lawn requires far less maintenance, and they’ve now been made to look great and feel smooth to the touch. But if you don’t like the look of artificial grass, consider going with desert landscaping, which utilizes boulders, sand, and desert shrubs. This type of landscaping is gorgeous and works well with both traditional architecture and modern architecture.
2. Replace Your Windows
Heating and air conditioning cost a considerable amount of money and energy. Many homes—especially older homes—have windows that don’t properly insulate the house. They often let out the cold or warm air that your HVAC system is working hard to create, and this forces your HVAC to work harder. You can save a lot of money on heating and air conditioning by simply contacting Window World and replacing your old windows with new ones that insulate better.
3. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting
Not all lighting is made equally—some lights use more energy than others. You can cut down on energy costs by making sure your home is equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting. LED (light-emitting diodes) lights are brighter and require less electricity than other types of bulbs. They can also be used with dimmers and motion sensors so you can keep the luxury lighting features in your home.
On the subject of light bulbs, check out this centennial light bulb that’s been burning for over a century. Yes, the only reason your light bulbs ever die is that the manufacturers program them that way. It’s the “light bulb conspiracy.” I hope that gets you angry!
4. Equip Your Home with Solar
Nearly all luxury homes these days are equipped with solar panels, and for a good reason. What better energy source than the hot, perpetually burning sun? You can significantly cut down on your energy costs by outfitting your home with solar power.
There are other ways you can use solar power on your property. Think about using walkway lights and property gates that are powered by solar batteries.
5. Get a Recycling Bin
Here’s an easy way to make your home more eco-friendly: just recycle. Place a recycling bin in your home (a small one in your kitchen and a large one in your garage or side yard) and toss in all your recyclable items. These items include:
- Plastic bottles
- Aluminum cans
- Glass bottles
- Cardboard
- Envelopes and junk mail
You can also take certain recyclable items to a local recycling center and earn cash for your contributions.
6. Drive Electric
Gas-powered cars are the primary culprits behind the emissions that are causing climate change. Think about getting an electric vehicle. The modern electric car is fast, powerful, and utterly luxurious—just check out the Tesla. Plus, electric cars will be far cheaper than gas-powered cars because you won’t have to pay for gasoline.
Automobiles aren’t the only machines that have electric models. Check out this hybrid superyacht.
7. Use a Pool Cover
Consider using a pool cover for seasons when you’re not using your luxury pool, as in the wintertime. The problem with pools is that they kill lots of bees, which come to take a sip and then are poisoned by the chlorine or drown. We need bees to pollinate our plants and create fruits, and bee populations are declining at a frightening rate. Furthermore, a pool cover reduces how much your water evaporates—thus, reducing how much water you need to top it off. There are lots of modern, automatic pool covers that are far easier to use than hand-operated ones.
If you use any one of these eco-friendly tips, you’ll be doing your part in protecting the environment and fighting climate change. You can also take a look at Ecoy’s guide.
